A powerful builder of Jewish affiliation

Some week’s ago,the community celebrated the
release of a groundbreaking report entitled “2018 Survey of Jews in Canada:
Final Report” by Robert
Brym, Keith Neuman and Rhonda Lenton.

The
study was conducted by the Environics Institute for Survey Research in
partnership with the University of Toronto and York University. That it was considered important for the
Jewish community of Canada is evident in the fact that it was made possible through
the financial support of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, the Anne Tanenbaum
Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Toronto, the Jewish Foundation
of Manitoba, the Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal and Federation CJA in
Montreal.

The report’s
authors tell us that “the research provides the first empirically-based
portrait of the identity, practices, and experiences of Jews in Canada, based
on a survey conducted in four cities containing over 80 percent of the
country’s Jewish population -Toronto, Montreal,
Vancouver, and Winnipeg”.

The study
is rich in detail and perspective about the Jews of Canada. The reason GAJE
calls it to the attention of readers is because it reaffirms a message we have been
delivering for the past four years. It definitively documents how powerful the
day school experience is in building Jewish affiliation for life.

The
following two observations about the importance of Jewish education are
indicative of the report’s overall conclusions regarding the close connection
between having a Jewish education and subsequently choosing to live one’s life
demonstratively joined to the Jewish community.

“A key
component of continuity is the prevalence of Jewish education, with most Jews
in Canada having participated in one or more types of Jewish education when
growing up. Jewish education is most likely to include attendance at an
overnight summer camp, Hebrew school or Sunday school, but close to one-half
have attended a Jewish day school or yeshiva and have done so for an average of
nine years. “ (The Executive Summary)

“Based
on the Toronto subsample, it is evident that an association exists between attending
a Jewish day school and not fully assimilating into the mainstream culture. For
some indicators, the likelihood of assimilation falls steadily the more years
one attends Jewish day school.” (Report
p.38)

The
report is somewhat of a mirror. We urge everyone to look at it. They will see unique,
exceptional Jewish community of Canada all looking back.

•••

For
more information about the study, readers are asked to contact Keith Neuman,
Ph.D.

The
Environics Institute for Survey Research 416-969-2457, or by email at: keith.neuman@environics.ca